Lifestyle Retreat in the Heart of the Vineyards

After years working in advertising as an account manager for major companies and clients around the world, Salem began to think, during the pandemic, about a career that would feel meaningful to her and align with her passions. Having always dreamed of Provence, she moved there in 2022. More specifically, to La Bastide de Marie, where she spent her first night. She was immediately captivated by the colors, the scents, and this way of life that is both authentic and refined. Everything there resonated with her, and from then on, she has returned “again and again” with the same sense of wonder.

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Since 2023, through her company Gallivant & Gather, she has been organizing custom retreats at Mas Vermentino every spring and fall—the transitional seasons when nature and the landscape are at their most vibrant. Designed to meet the wishes of her clients—exclusively women—and drawing on her unparalleled knowledge of the Provençal art of living, her deeply inspiring retreats are perfect for friends, solo travelers, or mothers and daughters who, in small groups of eight, savor all the region’s charms. “I wanted to combine wellness and culture and create a space where one can rest, discover, and rejuvenate in complete safety and serenity. A space to share one’s story through an experience that prioritizes open-mindedness, connection, and sincerity.” For while she initially envisioned bringing in pieces from the designers and antique dealers she carefully unearthed during her strolls through the stunning villages that dot these sun-drenched, fragrant lands—Ménerbes, of course, Lacoste, Oppède-le-Vieux, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Gordes, Bonnieux…, with the aim of introducing them to her American clients, she ultimately changed her mind, deciding, after all, to bring her clients directly to Provence.

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During these luxury lifestyle retreats, Salem showcases every aspect of the region. She invites artists, artisans, and chefs to the farmhouse—people who love to share not only their passion but also their stories and experiences, some of whom are Americans who have also fallen in love with this place. Chic sewing workshops with cutting-edge designers like the American Tarik Koivisto, founder of Luxe Provence; pottery classes and outdoor painting sessions; floral arrangement workshops; exclusive shopping trips to select boutiques; cultural outings to artists’ studios, museums, and art foundations; bike rides; Pilates classes in the shade of the gardens, strolling through colorful markets, wine tastings, and of course, simply enjoying a meal each evening prepared by a chef that guests savor outdoors, in the large kitchen, or from the summer lounges by the fire. An opportunity to savor the wonders of this bountiful region: the wines, including, of course, those from Domaine de Marie; the sun-kissed fruits and vegetables; the fragrant herbs from the gardens; the truffles…

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A truly magical getaway in a place that’s just as enchanting… See you soon!